Are you being intentional with your summer?

So first off…. a little housekeeping!!! Today is the LAST DAY to vote for Circle of Mom’s Top 25 Homeschooling Moms Contest. We are soooooo close…. at #27!! Pretty please take 5 seconds to vote and get Living Life Intentionally into the Top 25!!! I’d so appreciate it =-) Feel free to share the link with your Facebook friends – just remember to let them know who you’d like them to vote for. I’m sure you’ve heard parents with grown kids remark on how quickly kids grow up. I know I tire of hearing I should enjoy every moment!! It’s not because I am tired of my kids!!! It’s actually quite the opposite! The reason I dislike hearing those things is that I am already very aware my ‘babies’ are growing up. Each day takes them one step closer to independence and leaving the nest. Being a Mom is one of the best parts of my life, hands down! And I am TREASURING these precious years!! So if you are having trouble taking time to enjoy your kids I encourage you to slow down and savor these moments with your kids. Enjoy listening to them talk, making them giggle, cuddling on the couch, enjoying new experiences together, and sitting and eating a popsicle. For these moments will be gone all to quickly! Be intentional about doing fun things that will create precious memories for you & your kids.

Are you having trouble coming up with ideas or being consistently intentional about your precious summer time with your kids? Try making a Summer Bucket List! (click on image for free download) The kids & I had a GREAT time making a list of things we wanted to do – we all helped make the list. Now each day we just look at our list & see what we want to do & cross off our list. It helps us all get to the fun we want to have, keeps me from having to think creatively every day, and helps us be intentional about our limited time. Here are some of the ideas on our list:

have a lemonade stand

play at the splash park

ride our bikes & have a picnic

make a kid wash (post coming on this one)

have a water balloon fight

fly kites

try the 3D chalk on our driveway

start a rock collection

go mini golfing

read for our library summer reading program

catch fireflies in a jar

make ice cream

go camping

make root bear floats

go bowling

go to six flags (free from reading program!)

do u-pick berries & make a pie

go to the “castle park”

do an outdoor Jackson Pollock art project

father & son home depot clinic on making bird house (free)

see a movie at the theatre with buttered popcorn

sleep under the stars

re-decorate kids rooms

make cookies

camp out in the backyard

ask a family over for dinner we haven’t had over before

swimming lessons

go to waterpark

KidWash (post coming . . .)

craft project from craft cabinet

Slip & Slide Fun & Popsicles

Make our own popsicles

Do a make-own ice cream sundae for breakfast!

Looking for more ideas to add to your bucket list? Check out the Summer Bucket List Party 2012 for more GREAT ideas from the truly creative host Little Wonders’ Day and lots of other linked up blogs!

I am going to write the year on our bucket list & save it – what a fun keepsake of our childhood fun together!

It is intentionally planning one thing a day to spark an interest and create a memory. It is helping to expose your kids to a variety of activities, experiences, and situations. It is making time to lay on the grass and watch clouds. So tell me….What’s on your summer bucket list?

About the author

Beth Gorden

Beth Gorden is the creative multi-tasking creator of 123 Homeschool 4 Me. As a busy homeschooling mother of six, she strives to create hands-on learning activities and worksheets that kids will love to make learning FUN! Beth is also the creator of www.kindergartenworksheetsandgames.com where she shares Kindergarten spedicif worksheets,& educational ideas.